Method and apparatus for recapping single-use hypodermic needles

ABSTRACT

An adhesive “block” device is provided which can be used to grip to removable caps of single-use, disposable, hypodermic needles. Adhesive is provided on four sides of the block allowing for the block to be attached at one side to a tray or other supporting surface, with at least one of the surfaces configured to easily deform, retain said deformation, and adhesively grip and immobilize the caps to allow for safe, “one-hand” removal and subsequent replacement of the needle in the cap.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional application of application Ser.No. 09/416,666, filed Oct. 12, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,044, issuedFeb. 19, 2002. The present application claims the benefit and priorityof this application to the fullest extent provided by law, andincorporates by reference the contents of application Ser. No.09/416,666, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,044, issued Feb. 19, 2002.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to the medical industry, andparticularly relates to a method and apparatus for safe, one-handedrecapping (re-sheathing) and/or subsequent uncapping (unsheathing) ofsingle-use hypodermic needles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art is replete with devices and methods for providing storageor other protection for a cap of a needle. The prior art likewiseincludes methods and apparatuses for providing “single-hand” attachmentand detachment of caps from their respective needles. In particular, theprior art discloses the use of a clay-like or other “sticky” materialsto insert grip the caps of needles, such as shown in Stein (U.S. Pat.No. 5,399,169) and Marsh (U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,223).

Particular attention is directed towards the Stein and the Marshreferences. As may be seen, each of these references disclose the use ofa deformable support material contained by a receptacle. In each of thepatents the receptacle can be adhesively attached to a supportingsurface by use of an adhesive (as an example see 36 in the Marshpatent).

Although the prior art includes advantages, needs still exist in theart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes deficiencies in the prior art byproviding a disposable device which can be temporarily placed on asupporting surface to allow for one-handed uncapping and recapping ofsingle use, disposable hypodermic needles.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved method and apparatus for safely handling single use, disposablehypodermic needles.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved method and apparatus for uncapping said hypodermic needles.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved method and apparatus for recapping said hypodermic needles.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved method and apparatus for handling said hypodermic needles whichprovides improved safety features.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved method and apparatus for handling said hypodermic needles whichprovides improved ergonomic features.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved method and apparatus for handling said hypodermic needles whichprovides improved cost and convenience features.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon reading the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with thedrawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an adhesive block device 10 according tothe present invention attached within a medical-dental instrument tray20. No needles or caps are shown in place in this drawing.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of a portion of that shown in FIG. 1,with an alternate block configuration shown in phantom as 10′. A singlecapped needle 20 which would be used with the device 10 is shown inphantom as 20, and additional multiple capped needles which would beused with the alternate elongate configuration are shown as 10″.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of a first embodiment needle 30 having a cap31, used in conjunction with a block 10 according to the presentinvention. Any of the four adhesive surfaces of the block can be used toattach the block to a flat surface. Various relative movements betweenthe adhesive block and the needle are also shown.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of a second embodiment needle 40 having a cap41, used in conjunction with a block 10 according to the presentinvention. The dimensions are variable according to the size of theneedle cap and number of caps requiring immobilization, and the surfaceto which the demobilization device is attached.

FIG. 5 is a isolated view of the adhesive block according to the presentinvention. Height and angle may be modified for production to conform toa particular tray.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of an alternate notched blockconfiguration 60 in which one or more of the four sides having adhesivethereon include notches or grooves such as 67, 67′, or 67″ on any or allof the adhesive-provided sides. One side 61 includes surface portions orfaces 62 a, 62 b, 68 a, and 68 b. Faces 68 a and 68 b are formed bynotch 67.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to the drawings, in which like numerals indicatelike elements throughout the several views.

General Construction and Operation

The invention generally relates to the use of an adhesive “block” device10 which can be used to grip to removable caps of single use,disposable, hypodermic needles. Adhesive is provided on at leastportions of, in one embodiment, four sides of the block 10 (see 11, 12,13, and 14 of FIG. 5) allowing for the block to be attached at one sideto a medical or dental instrument tray or other supporting surface, withthese surfaces being configured to deform and adhesively grip the capsto allow for “one-hand” detachment and reattachment thereof.

Details on the Block

Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a pictorial view ofan adhesive block device 10 according to the present invention attachedwithin a medical or dental instrument tray 20. No capped needles areshown in place in this drawing. FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of aportion of that shown in FIG. 1.

As may be seen, an “adhesive block” 10 is provided, which provides ablock which can be used to grip the caps of said hypodermic needles. Inone embodiment, four sides of the block include surface adhesive,allowing for the block to be attached to said tray or other flatsupporting surface, and to attach itself to the caps. The cap-contactingsurface is not only sticky, but is also deformable and has some memorywhile allowing the deformation to be retained upon light to moderatedownward pressure.

In one embodiment, one “inclined” side can be at an angle to allow foruse within a tray having an angled side wall. It is highly preferablethat the dimensions are selected such that the block protrudes slightlyabove the tray lip to accommodate such deformation during needle capplacement in proximity of the tray wall.

The device 10 is intended to be utilized on either flat surfaces or ontray walls with an angulation of approximately 45 degrees. The top ofthe adhesive block will give a flat surface for the needle cap to restupon horizontally. The 45 degree angle is intended to stick to the sideof medical/dental instrument trays which have a 45 degree angle.However, as shown in FIG. 5, other configurations are contemplatedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It should be understood that the present invention discusses theprovision of various “sides” to the adhesive block 10. The term side isintended to mean a surface or collection of surfaces which are allgenerally oriented in the same direction. In FIG. 2, the block has sixsides, which are all planar. All of these sides consist of one commonplanar “face”. However, in FIG. 6, some of the sides include multiplesurface portions or “faces”, which combine to comprise each side. InFIG. 6, the side 61 includes surface portions or faces 62 a, 62 b, 68 a,and 68 b.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of afirst embodiment needle 30 having a cap 31, used in conjunction with ablock 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a pictorial viewof a first embodiment needle 40 having a cap 41, used in conjunctionwith a block 10 according to the present invention. Various relativemovements between the adhesive block and the needle are also shown. Asmay be seen by these two figures, the block according to the presentinvention is configured to attach to a variety of needle or needle capdesigns.

Details on Operation

FIG. 3 shows the various movements which may be used to allow forattachment, detachment, decapping of needles and recapping of needles.

Movement in the “A” direction, assisted with moderate direct fingerpressure causes attachment of the capped needle to the block accompaniedby deformation of the block material to conform to the outsidedimensions of the needle cap surface. Movement in the “B” directioncauses detachment of the capped needle from the block.

Movement in the “C” direction, accompanied with continued moderatefinger pressure allows for initial one-handed uncapping of the needle.This allows for one-handed un-capping of the needle after the initial“seal” is broken manually. Movement in the “D” direction allows forone-handed recapping of the needle.

It should be understood that the device 10 should have sufficientadhesive ability to resist between two and one half and three pounds ofpressure before the needle cap is terminally released from the adhesiveblock prior to disposal.

Composition

The material to which the adhesive is attached should allowapproximately three to five millimeters (3-5 mm) of sponginess anddisplaying minimum elastic memory when placing the needle cap on thedevice.

The type of material used for this could be Styrofoam or a dense sponge,or any other suitable material known in the art.

Alternate Embodiments

An alternate embodiment includes the concept of having the adhesivemanufactured directly onto the needle cap and when the needle cap placedon a surface for in use one-handed decapping and recapping (afterinitial decapping).

Another alternate configuration is contemplated under which a pluralityof capped needles may be placed on one more elongate block. ReferencingFIG. 2, phantom lines show the alternate configuration, in which a moreelongate block is configured to attach to and support a plurality ofcapped needles arranged side-by-side in the tray.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of an alternate block configuration inwhich the four sides having adhesive thereon include notches or“V”-grooves such as 67, 67′, or 67″ on any or all of theadhesive-provided sides. Such grooves can be configured to accept theround outline of the needle caps.

It should be understood that although the above invention has beendescribed in conjunction with single-use, disposable items, it could beused more than once to the extent allowed by proper medical standards.

CONCLUSION

While this invention has been described in specific detail withreference to the disclosed embodiments, it will be understood that manyvariations and modifications may be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention as described in the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A device for use in conjunction with a hypodermic needlehaving an elongate cap having an end and at least one side extendingalong its length, said device configured for attaching said cap of saiddevice relative to a horizontal, substantially flat supporting surface,said device comprising: a deformable block having multiple sidesincluding a first side and a second side, said first and second sidesincluding corresponding first and second side portions, said first andsecond side portions being substantially flat, lying in substantiallyparallel planes in their undeformed state, and each including adhesivethereon, such that said side of said elongate cap of said hypodermicneedle may be detachably fixed to said first side portion of said block,and said second side portion of said block may be detachably attached tosaid supporting surface while said second side portion of said blockremains substantially flat and such that said block is supported therebyby said supporting surface, said first side portion of said block atleast partially deforming to said side of said elongate cap of saidhypodermic needle.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saiddeformable block further includes a third side including a correspondingthird side portion being substantially flat and including adhesivethereon, such that said side of said elongate cap of said hypodermicneedle may be detachably fixed to one of said first, second, or thirdside portions of said block, and one of the remaining two side portionsof said block may be detachably attached to said supporting surface andsupported thereby.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein two ofsaid flat side portions of said deformable block are adjacent and atright angles to each other.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 2, whereintwo of said flat side portions of said deformable block are oppositelyfacing and the third is an intermediate perpendicular, inclined, flatside surface portion configured to contact an inclined supportingsurface inclined relative to said horizontal supporting surface.
 5. Thedevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deformable block furtherincludes third and fourth sides including corresponding third and fourthside portions each being substantially flat and including adhesivethereon, such that said elongate cap of said hypodermic needle may bedetachably fixed to one of said first, second, third, or fourth sideportions of said block, and one of the remaining three side portions ofsaid deformable block may be detachably fixed attached to saidsupporting surface and supported thereby.
 6. The device as claimed inclaim 5, wherein said four side portions of said deformable block are inpairs in parallel planes.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 5, whereineach of said four side portions of said deformable block comprise theentirety of each of the four sides.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said first side portion of said deformable block is provided inpart by a V-shaped groove in said first side.
 9. A device for use inconjunction with a hypodermic needle having a cap, and also inconjunction with a tray for accepting said needle, said devicecomprising: a deformable block having multiple sides, four of said sidesbeing substantially flat and two of which lie in substantially parallelplanes while in their undeformed state and include adhesive thereon,such that a cap of said hypodermic needle may be attached to one of saidsides, and said other side of said block may be selectively attached tosaid tray while remaining substantially flat and such tat said block issupported thereby by said supporting surface.
 10. A device forattachment relative to a supporting surface, said device comprising: ahypodermic needle having an elongate cap, said cap having an end and atleast one side extending along its length; and a deformable block havingan exterior surface defining first and second block surface portions,said first block surface portion of said deformable block being attachedto and at least partially conforming to said side of said cap of saidneedle, and said second block surface portion of said deformable blockbeing attached to and supported by said supporting surface, wherein saidelongate cap is detachable from the remainder of said hypodermic needle,and wherein said cap of said hypodermic needle is attached to said firstblock surface portion such that if said remainder of said hypodermicneedle is gasped by a human hand and pulled away relatively from saidsupporting surface in a particular direction, said cap is detached fromsaid remainder and said cap remains attached to said deformable blockwhich itself remains attached relative to said supporting surface.
 11. Adevice for attachment relative to a supporting surface, said supportingsurface defined by a tray, said device comprising: a hypodermic needlehaving an elongate cap, said cap having an end and at least one sideextending along its length; and a deformable block having an exteriorsurface defining first and second block surface portions, said firstblock surface portion of said deformable block being attached to and atleast partially conforming to said side of said cap of said needle, andsaid second block surface portion of said deformable block beingattached to and supported by said supporting surface defined by saidtray.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said exteriorsurface includes first and second sides, said first and second sidesincluding in a corresponding manner said first and second block surfaceportions.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said end ofsaid hypodermic needle is a closed end opposite an open end, and whereinsaid closed end of said elongate cap of said needle is unobstructed bysaid block when attached thereto.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 11,wherein said elongate cap is detachable from the remainder of saidhypodermic needle, and wherein said cap of said hypodermic needle isattached to said first block surface portion such that if said remainderof said hypodermic needle is grasped by a human hand and pulled awayrelatively from said supporting surface in a particular direction, saidcap is detached from said remainder and said cap remains attached tosaid deformable block which itself remains attached relative to saidsupporting surface.
 15. A device comprising: an instrument tray definingfirst and second supporting surfaces; a hypodermic needle including anelongate main portion and detachable elongate cap, said cap having anend and at least one side extending along its length, said main portionbeing at least partially supported by said first supporting surface ofsaid tray; and a deformable block having an exterior surface definingfirst and second block surface portions, said first block surfaceportion of said deformable block being attached to and at leastpartially conforming to said side of said cap of said needle, and saidsecond block surface portion of said deformable block being attached toand supported by said second supporting surface of said tray, such thatsaid hypodermic needle is supported by a combination of said first andsecond supporting surfaces of said tray.
 16. The device as claimed inclaim 15, wherein said elongate cap of said hypodermic needle isattached to said first block surface portion such that if said mainportion of said hypodermic needle is grasped by a human band and pulledaway from said tray in a particular direction, said cap is detached fromsaid main portion and remains attached to said deformable block whichitself remains attached relative to said tray.
 17. The device as claimedin claim 15, wherein said first supporting surface is a cradle portiondefined by said tray.
 18. The device as claimed in claim 15, whereinsaid end of said hypodermic needle is a closed end opposite an open end,and wherein said closed end of said elongate cap of said needle isunobstructed by said block when attached thereto.
 19. A device for usein conjunction with a hypodermic needle having an elongate cap having anend and at least one side extending along its length, said deviceconfigured for attaching said cap of said device relative to asupporting surface, said device comprising; a deformable block havingmultiple sides including a first side, a second side, and a third side,said first, second, and third sides including corresponding first,second, and third side portions, said first, second, and third sideportions being substantially fiat and including adhesive thereon, suchthat said side of said elongate cap of said hypodermic needle may bedetachably fixed to one of said first, second, or third side portions ofsaid block, and one of the remaining two side portions of said block maybe detachably attached to said supporting surface and supported thereby,said side portion of said block being the one detachably fixed to saidelongate cap of said hypodermic needle at least partially deforming tosaid side of said elongate cap of said hypodermic needle.
 20. The deviceas claimed in claim 19, wherein two of said flat side portions of saiddeformable block are adjacent and at right angles to each other.
 21. Thedevice as claimed in claim 19, wherein two of said fiat side portions ofsaid deformable block are oppositely facing and the third is anintermediate perpendicular, inclined, flat side surface portion.
 22. Adevice for use in conjunction with a hypodermic needle having anelongate cap having an end and at least one side extending along itslength, said device configured for attaching said cap of said devicerelative to a supporting surface, said device comprising: a deformableblock having multiple sides including a first side, a second side, athird side, and a fourth side, said first second, third, and fourthsides including corresponding first, second, third, and fourth sideportions, said first, second, third, and fourth side portions beingsubstantially flat and including adhesive thereon, such that said sideof said elongate cap of said hypodermic needle may be detachably fixedto one of said first, second, third, or fourth side portions of saidblock1 and one of the remaining three side portions of said deformableblock may be detachably fixed attached to said supporting Surface andsupported thereby, said side portion of said block being the onedetachably fixed to said elongate cap of said hypodermic needle at leastpartially deforming to said side of said elongate cap of said hypodermicneedle.
 23. The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said four sideportions of said deformable block are in pairs in parallel planes. 24.The device as claimed in claim 22, wherein each of said four sideportions of said deformable block comprise the entirety of each of thefour sides.